The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-12
w years later to Miss Marion, Of Lexington,

truVeled Tor n whfle ana thcn commenced the
practice OF medicine In Chilcothe, where he
appointed trustee Of the Ohio University. In
1858 he was made n trustee OF the Athens
Asylum for the Insane. and in 1880 hc was made
one OF tho trustees OF the Central Asylum at
Columbus, which position he still holds. DIR.
Waddle possesses a good many valuable letters
and papers, but his personal rccollections are
OF even more value than his documents.
Judge Grimlse, tho author OF n standard poll
o-philosophical work, entitled "The Nature
and Tendency OF Free Institutions" lived in
Chilicotho, but there has never been much
written about him. I asked DIR. Waddlo II he
recalled Judge Grimke.
10, yes" was the answer. II know him well,
and saw n great deal OF him In his latter days.
Senator Thurman was one OF his executors.
Frederick Grimkc came from South Carolina,
where he was born. His family was distin.
guished ono OF Hugucnot extraction. He had
brother who was well known lawyer Judge
Grimke had two sisters who held strong convic.
tions on tho slavery question: and were forced
to leave South Carolina by reason OF their
abolition views.
''One Of them Angelina, married man named
Weld. When Weld was young man. md the
anti.slavery excitement ut Lane Seminary was
at its height about 1895, under tho inspiration
OF Dr. Bcechcr, he came to Ohio TO lecture there
and stopped in Chiicothe. Some one invited
him TO deliver his address here. He did SO,
the mob.
Judge Grml,c was about eighty years OF age
when he died. He left directions to have one
copy OF his book deposited with tho Govern
ment at Washington, and u second copy with
the Confederate Government ut Richmond. He
thought that the Union would be sundered and
the Confedcracy successfully established"
WAS Judge Grtmke's book o successg
II think so. 1t was no. the kind of book to
command large circle Of readers, but to those
fond OF such works 1t would be interesting and
valuable believe 1t still has some sale. 1t is
thoughtful book and very well written. Judge
Grimke wrote no other books. He was mod
est man in many ways, and there is no picture
OF him to be had. In fact do not think he ever
had one made. Being an Unmarried man he may
have lacked the incentive.
"Grimkc was q slender man, about flve feet
nine inches in height. He had good forehead,
large expressive eyes, q long, slender nose and
thin face"
What were the impressions you gathered
from old citizens earlier in your life about the
conspiracy that compasscd the defeat and re.
trement Of General ST. Clair, Governor Of the
Northwest Territory?'
II have heard great deal said about the
political conspiracies and schemes OF early
times and much that l heard has been con-
firmed by an examination OF the published
papers Of ST. Clair. Worthington and others
who were prominent in politics then. THIN,
Massie and Worthington were the leaders in
the plot against st. Clair, and they were active
in their efforts to effect his political ruin.
Colonel Worthington and DR.. THIN had hardly
been in the Territory year. said the editor of
st. Clairs papers, when they formed the design
OF driving st. Clair out and bringing about q
political revolution Mnssie was their trusted
adviser and they were assisted by William
Creighton, jr., and Samuel Finley, of Ross;
Mr. Darlington. of Adams; Judge Symmcs,
John Smith, William Goforth and Francis
Dunlavey, OF Hamilton, and Return j. Meigs,
tr, Of Washington County. Jeremiah Nor
row and others were brought into the ring
later
colonel Massie was not ambitious of polti.
cnl preferment but he had q grudge against
st. Clair for refusing to locate the county-seat
Of Adam County ut Manchester, where he had
largo landed interests. The others were after
political Offices"
The plot against st. Clair was thoroughly and
carefully planned. continuous ofYort was
made to work up q popular sentiment against
him, and the notion Of forming State from the
Territory was dwelt upon with q great deal Of
persistency The hope OF the conspirators was
that in an election st. Clair would be defeated
The State party became very aggressive, and
during the session Of the Territorial Legisla-
ture that convened on the gath OF November,
1901, the political excitement reached such q
height that u mob, melted by the advocates Of
State Government, and aided by certain citizens
OF Chillicothe who were angered ut tho prOpo5-
I'd removal OF the scat OF government, took
possession OF the town for two nights.
Meynbers OF the Legislature who had voted
| against the measures of tho State party were
threatened with DEATH and tho door OF tho
| house in which Governor st. Clair and Mr..
Schiehelcin, an ardent supporter of his in the
| Legislature, boarded, was forced opcn. The
mob advanced into the hallway, but were driven
| out ut tho point OF pistol
When Jeffcrso. became President the Chilli
Gothic junta sent Colonel Worthington to WASH
ington. He represented if tho Territory was di-
vidcd and Ohio admitted, that q new State
would bc added to the list of those upon which
he could count for support.
AS early ss 1890 Worthington threatened to
prefer charges against st. Clair through the
| Legislature, but thnt body would not become
| his tool James Ross tried to mend mnttors
and establish more pleasant relations among
the leading men OF tho Territory. but he could
| not turn the iunta from its purpose OF over
throwing st. Clair. After the attack on St.
Clair it became violent, and in cases passed the
| limits OF decency. General Rufus Putnam took
| u strong and active part in defending the Gov
| crnor by letter and petition. While ut Wash
ington Colonel Worthington labored to create
| the impression that st. Clair was u merciless
| dcspOt and that there was no remedy for tho
| dreadful state OF affairs but change Of local
government. One OF Worthngton's friends,
| John Smith, who was Afterwards U. 8. Son.
| atOr and implicated In tho Burr conspiracy,
strobe about Washington exclaiming: 1--WE are
| and have been for moro than thirteen years
under the oppressive hand OF tyranny. We
want to be free"
| Every available influence was brought to bear
| upon President Jefferson, and two Of his enc
mics made statement in writing that they had
heard him declare, while no was talking to
friends in private house, that the United
| States Government would finally settle down
| into monarchy" This alleged utterance,
| coupled with others TINT he had spoken in dis
paraging terms OF Jefferson, was sent to Wash
| ington by the spies that were always sneakng
| about St. Clair to report and misnterpret every
| word that fell from his lips. The facts seem to
| be that he did not make use of tho language
ascribed TO him, and there Is evidence ut hand
| to prove that he was not ut that time personally
unfriendly to Jefferson.
| Mr.. Jefferson knew that man who had rislsed
| his life and spent large fortune In helping to
| establish the Government was not u monarch
! list, ind the low designs Of the Western politi.
clans did not prevail just then. But within q
| year he removed st. Clair for political reasons
| and on the strength Of some OF his public utter
| ances, which were not supposed to DO IN har
mOny with the welfare OF Mr.. Jefforson's party
nnd which were garbled and falsely reported In
spirit to him by some OF st. Clair's enemies In
the Territory. ~
The removal caused great deal OF talk at the
time, and Jefferson was sharply criticised for /,
because 1t was looked upon us bit OF low polit
ical persecution. st. Clair was known to have
been u favored friend OF Washington's and was
| man OF great learning and ability. He gave
| his services and his fortune to his country dur
| ing the wnr OF tho revolution, and II WIS very
properly hello that II any man then living was
entitled to an Office as reward for substantial